About 5 years ago, I decided to make a list of things I wanted to do before I kicked the bucket. Has anyone else done this? Just for fun I thought I'd share my list and see if anyone else has thought of what they want to do or accomplish before the final goodbye. I've marked the ones that I've managed to do already.

Take a cruise to Alaska [this one is planned for next June!]

See my daughter get married -- DONE

Get to 165 lbs. [working on it!!]

Remodel a house EXACTLY the way I want it

Have a landscaped yard the way I want it

Buy a brand new car -- DONE

Go to the U.K.

Buy a size 10 dress [I have sz. 10 jeans, and almost got into them before I "slipped"]

Start an animal rescue and spay/neuter program -- DONE

Make a baby quilt for each grandchild

Get something published (for $$ this time)

Go to one of those New Year’s Eve hotel and dancing packages

Visit the 18 states I haven’t seen yet by the time I’m 60

that is a good idea. one of the top things on my list is to learn how to surf. I don't know what makes me want to do this so badly, I don't live near the ocean or anything. I snowboard a lot in the winter but I have never even attempted to surf because I was so big and not fit enough. So my goal is to lose this weight, and get reallly inshape and learn to surf as a birthday present to my self when I turn 30(or some time around then I have about 15 months). I'll have to think up some others.

I Guess i'll have to go with this Quote from movie Braveheart


Every man dies, not every man really lives

To live a fullfilling life is what i want to do before i leave this world. If i say this, it is because until a few years ago, i did not realized that my life was passing in front of me, while i stood there just watching.....

get a degree (fingers crossed i start it in september)
see england lift a rugby world cup (done november 2003)
see england win the ashes (happening again soon but doubtfull for winning)
dive with sharks
jump out of a perfectly good aeroplane
get an authentic bone tapped polynessian tattoo
buy my own house (bearing in mind a 1bedroom apartment is 70k where i live)
get down below 210lb
leave the uk cos its a dump
complete 1 full season of rugby playing everygame (i.e no injuries) not a chance
meet a decent morally sound psychologically stable women (no comment i'll get shouted at)
cross the international date line

I haven't really thought about this too much before (being more of a "take it as it comes" type of person), but there's definitely a few things I'd like to experience before leaving this earth. Most are related to travel because I just can't get enough of that. I feel so fortunate that I've been able to visit every Province in my country (with the exception of the Territories) and every State in the United States (other than Alaska and Hawaii) so I'd like to see those, for sure! Again, I'm lucky to have travelled most of Europe (including Russia, finally!!) and Australia, but still have to get to the far east (hmm...the World Figure Skating Championships are in Japan in 2007...)

Here's some others:

- get to "goal" and learn how to stay there (hopefully I'll accomplish this WELL before I kick the bucket!)

- be a grandmother (I guess that's really up to my daughter)

- fly in a helicopter

- attend the opening ceremonies of an Olympic Games (I'm shooting for Vancouver 2010!)

- make a full and complete genealogical history of my (and G's) family (who knows, I may be descended from )

- go on another archaeological dig (last time was in the mid 1980s)

- meet my Guatemalan foster child :

- write a screenplay (and be nominated for an academy award? )

- learn to be more tolerant of the political beliefs of others (meaning to at least try to understand where those who have dissenting views from mine are coming from and not get frustrated because I can't sway them over to my side)

- celebrate a silver 25th wedding anniversary (I guess G and I had better get married soon or we'll be too old to celebrate much of anything!)

I think the lyrics to Tim McGraw's "Live Like You Were Dying" are especially appropriate for this thread:

Things to do before I die:

£180k here.

1. Weigh a normal amount
2. Meet and marry my soulmate (done!)
3. Go to university and get a degree
4. Get a job doing something I love
5. Learn to speak another language
6. Travel throughout the whole of the UK
7. Visit Ireland, Spain, France and Italy
8. Buy land to start a farm and become self-sufficient
9. Have 2 children

Here is my list:

· Get my degree in Business. (1 year left)
· Get my Associates degree (DONE)
· Visit Alaska.
· Move out of Ohio.
· Have a baby that makes it to Earth. (Not really up to me.)
· Open up my own Business. (Doggie Day Care and Spa)
· Get small enough to play Ice Hockey again. (I can play, just want to get smaller)
· Marry the love of my life (DONE)
· Have my own house (DONE)
· Wake up everyday knowing that I love myself no matter what size I am. (90% done)
· Be able to wear a size that starts with a “1”
· Pay off all my bills and live debt free. (a girl can dream, right?)

Amanda